OR XLVI P1 #117: Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Joseph E. Hamblin, 65th NY, commanding 2/1/VI/AotP, March 25, 1865

No. 117. Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Joseph E. Hamblin, Sixty-fifth New York Infantry, commanding Second Brigade, of operations March 25.¹

HDQRS. SECOND BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, SIXTH CORPS,
March 27, 1865.

COLONEL: In reply to your note of the 26th instant I have to report that on Saturday the 25th instant, about 8 a.m., in compliance with verbal orders through First Lieutenant Cooke, aide-de-camp, this brigade was marched to the vicinity of headquarters of Major-General Parke, to support the Ninth Corps. The affair was over before our arrival. After about three hours’ delay the brigade was marched back, and massed in reserve between Forts Wadsworth and Keene. Between 2 and 3 p.m. marched to the front of Fort Fisher, forming line there with Third [First] Brigade, Second Division, commanded by Colonel Warren, on left, and Third Brigade, First Division, on right, charged the enemy’s skirmishers in front, carried their line of pits, and pressed on about one-quarter of a mile beyond to a house near their main works. Finding the brigade far in advance, without supports on either side and exposed to a sharp fire from the enemy on my right flank, rallied and withdrew to a crest about 300 yards beyond the enemy’s old picket-line, connecting on either flank with the brigades above mentioned. Constructed pits for protection of pickets, detailed 175 men, properly officered, left behind as pickets, and at 1.30 a.m. of the 26th withdrew balance of command to camp, arriving at 2.30 a.m.

Our losses, amounting to sixty-four killed and wounded, have already been reported in detail. The brigade captured rather more than 200 prisoners. The advance was under a sharp fire from the enemy’s sharpshooters on right flank, and heavy artillery practice from the enemy’s batteries on our left, which completely enfiladed my line.

The command behaved admirably. Colonel James Hubbard, commanding Second Connecticut Volunteer Artillery; Major James W. Cronkite,

commanding One hundred and twenty-first New York Volunteers, who had a horse shot under him; Major John A. Ward, commanding Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, who also lost a horse, and Captain M. Devine, commanding Sixty-fifth New York Volunteers, led their men with great coolness and bravery. To Major A. H. Fenn, Captain James Deane, and Captain Charles H. Wood H. Woodman, of my staff, I am largely indebted. The gallant manner in which they performed the arduous duties of the day, and fearlessly exposed themselves to its many perils, entitles them to special consideration.

I have the honor to be, colonel, your obedient servant,

JO. E. HAMBLIN,
Brevet Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding Brigade.

Lieutenant Colonel GEORGE CLENDENIN, Jr.,
Assistant Adjutant-General, First Division, Sixth Corps.

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